Stolen vessel in NigeriaThe Nigerian Navy Ship, BEECROFT, has arrested a Motor Tanker SAISNIL II, for alleged oil theft in Lagos waters.
In a statement on Sunday, the Base Information Officer, Hussein Ibrahim, said the vessel, flagged in St. Vincent & Grenadines and carrying 11 crew members at the time of arrest, contained 720,000 liters of suspected stolen crude oil.
Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan, the Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command, said the vessel was observed to have turned off its Automatic Identification System (AIS), a serious violation within the nation’s maritime domain.
Hassan added that the manipulation of the vessel’s Automatic Identification System around ABO Field for over 48 hours raised concerns about illegalities.
He also stated that the infraction necessitated the deployment of NNS Sokoto, which sailed 199 nautical miles to intercept and return the vessel to Lagos anchorage.
The statement read, “In a commendable display of maritime security prowess the patrol team of NNS Beecroft under the auspices of the Commander, Commodore Kolawole Olumide Oguntuga, who also is the Maritime Component Commander Operation Awatse, arrested a vessel motor tanker SAISNIL II, St. Vincent & Grenadines flag vessel which had 11 crew onboard at the time of arrest.
“SAISNIL II initially sailed from Lagos anchorage on November 23, 2023, to Taraba Jetty in Port Harcourt, Rivers State to evacuate about 720,000 litres of crude oil sludge.
“The vessel was observed to have turned off its Automatic Identification System, around ABO Field for over 48 hours, which is a grievous infraction within the nation’s maritime domain, and this gave rise to a reasonable suspicion of illegalities.
“The infraction necessitated the deployment of Nigerian Navy Ship Sokoto, which sailed 199 nautical miles to intercept and return the vessel to Lagos anchorage.”
He added that the vessel is open to any agency that wants to get samples for analysis to confirm the product onboard.
“Samples of the product onboard have been taken for analysis at the appropriate laboratory and the outcome of the analysis will determine the next line of action.
“Also, the vessel is open to any agency that wants to get samples for analysis to confirm the product onboard.
“The successful detection leveraging technology and arrest of MT SAISNIL II despite the distance from the coast aligns with key priorities of the Strategic Directives of Vice Admiral EI Ogalla, Chief of the Naval Staff, emphasizing the Navy’s unweaving commitment to eradicating crude oil theft within the nations maritime environment for economic prosperity of our dear nation,” he added.
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